Portable dance game apparatus

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a portable dance game apparatus capable of playing dancing games to various songs without restrictions of places for the games through connections of a portable digital signal-reproducing device with a touch pad of the apparatus.  
     In case that a user inputs a game start signal through a key signal input unit, a controller reads a certain song from a song data storage unit, outputs the read song to a reproducing/outputting unit, reads game data from a game data storage unit, and controls a character display driving unit so that the game data moves along a certain locus on a character display unit. The controller, at the same time the game data reaches a reference line by moving along the locus, judges if a corresponding pressure sensing signal is inputted from the game touch pad connected to the digital signal-reproducing device, adds a predetermined point to a present score, and displays the added score on the character display unit.  
     Accordingly, the present invention enables a user to play dance games by using the game touch pad connected to the portable digital signal-reproducing device, so that the user can enjoy the dance games in desired places without restrictions of places.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a portable dancing game apparatus, and more particular to a portable dancing game apparatus capable of playing dancing games to various songs without restrictions of places for the games through connections of a portable digital signal-reproducing device with a touch pad of the apparatus.

[0003] 2. Reference to Related Patents Applications

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,908 Dance training device

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,013 Video dance game apparatus and program storage device readable by the apparatus

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,283 Music organizer and entertainment centre

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,031 Human activity simulator

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,075 Interactive multi-media game system and method

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,129 Method and system for controlling computer-generated virtual environment in response to audio signals

[0010] 3. Description of Related Art

[0011] Recently, dance game apparatuses, so-called DDR, Dance Dance Revolution, popularly prevail in men and women of all ages and in all social ranks.

[0012] Each of the dance game apparatuses is equipped with a display device, a controller, and a game touch pad.

[0013] The controller detects the case that game data is introduced on a reference position outputted on the display device at the same time a signal of a user is inputted through the game touch pad, adds predetermined points to a present score, and outputs the added score through the display device.

[0014] At this time, the game data consists of various patterns for a user to enjoy the game to a relatively rapid dance music in its tempo. Therefore, in case that a user chooses a dance music built in the dance game apparatus to play game, the controller recognises the choice and chooses one game pattern from the various game patterns. Further, the controller outputs game data in accordance with the game pattern through the display device. Furthermore, the controller controls the output so that a user seems to naturally dance in case that the user steps on the game touch pad in accordance with the game pattern.

[0015] The dance movements are made to an intense dance music, so that a user consumes lots of energy. Therefore, the dance game apparatus becomes popular in various ranks from children to housewives in addition to the youth which forms a particular field of life.

[0016] However, the dance game apparatus has a limitation to its installation space since it is integrated with a display device for outputting game data, a game touch pad, and a controller for controlling a entire system. Therefore there exists a problem in that the dance game apparatus requires certain locations such as general commercial game centres.

[0017] In order to solve the problem, a computer system is utilized as the controller, which realizes a dance game apparatus by connecting a portable and simplified touch pad to the computer system in a state that no limitation to space is applied. However, the dance game apparatus requires a computer system as well. Therefore, the dance game apparatus can not be operated in the places where a computer system does not exist, so that there exists a problem in that general users can not carry the apparatus with them freely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Accordingly, in order to solve the above problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dance game apparatus capable of playing dance games to various songs without restrictions of places for the games through connections of a portable digital signal-reproducing device with a touch pad of the apparatus.

[0019] Further, it is anther object of the present invention to provide a portable dance game apparatus capable of playing dance games with holding in a hand of a user a reproducing apparatus for displaying games and reproducing music.

[0020] In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention includes a game touch pad constructed with plural pressure sensors, and for outputting certain pressure sensing signals in case that a user steps on it; and a digital signal-reproducing device equipped with at least one or more light-flashing units and a character display unit for outputting character data on the front thereof, and connected to the game touch pad.

[0021] More preferably, the digital signal-reproducing device includes a song data storage unit for storing game data of at least one or more songs; a game data storage unit for storing the game data in order for a user to enjoy the games to the song data; a key signal input unit for receiving key signals produced according to the manipulations of the user; a transmitting/receiving interface unit for receiving pressure sensing signals from the game touch pad; a reproducing/outputting unit for converting the song data read from the song data storage unit into an analog audio signal; a display driving unit for selectively turning on and off the light-flashing unit in response to driving signals inputted from external; a character display driving unit for outputting game data to the character display unit in response to a character display signal inputted from the external; and a controller for reading a certain song from the song data storage unit in case that a game start signal is inputted through the key signal input unit and outputting the read song data to the reproducing/outputting unit, outputting a driving signal for controlling the driving of the light-flashing unit, and outputting a character display signal to the character display driving unit for outputting the game data of the game data storage unit to the character display unit.

[0022] Further, the portable digital signal-reproducing device includes a song data storage unit for storing song data of at least one or more songs; an image data storage unit for storing image data in order for a user to enjoy a dance game to the song data; a key signal input unit for receiving key signals produced according to the manipulations of the user; a reproducing/outputting unit for converting the song data read from the song data storage unit into an analog audio signal; a light-flashing driving unit for turning on and off light-flashing units in response to an input of a driving signal; a character display driving unit for outputting image data to the character display unit in response to an input of a character display control signal from the external; and a controller for, in case that a game start signal is inputted through the key signal input unit, reading a certain song from the song data storage unit and outputting the read song to the reproducing/outputting unit, outputting driving signals for controlling the driving of the light-flashing units, and outputting a control signal to the character display driving unit in order to output to the character display unit the image data from the image data storage unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The above objects and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0024]FIG. 1 is a block diagram for showing a portable dance driving device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0025]FIG. 2 is a view for showing a state in use of a portable dance game apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027]FIG. 1 is a block diagram for showing a portable dance game apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view for showing a state in use of a portable dance game apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a game touch pad 200 has plural pressure sensors from which predetermined pressure sensing signals are outputted whenever a user steps on the pad 200. In FIG. 2, the game touch pad 200 has four pressure sensors disposed in up, down, left, and right positions thereof.

[0029] A digital signal-reproducing device 100 is connected to the game touch pad 200 through wire and receives pressure sensing signals inputted from the pressure sensors.

[0030] An MPEG player which rapidly prevails recently may be a typical example for the digital signal-reproducing device 100, wherein the MPEG stands for the Moving Picture Experts Group.

[0031] Alternately, the digital signal-reproducing device 100 may be connected to the game touch pad 200 through a wireless communication type.

[0032] Further, the digital signal-reproducing device 100 is equipped with at least one or more light-flashing unit 190 and a character display unit 195 for outputting character data.

[0033] The light-flashing unit 190 is constructed with light-emitting diodes LED, and the display unit 195 is built with Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), but, in addition to the above, alternate materials or devices for the LEDs or the LCD may be applied if the materials or devices can perform the same operations as above.

[0034] In the meantime, the digital signal-reproducing device 100 includes a song data storage unit 110 for storing game data in order for a user to enjoy games to the song data; a key signal input unit 130 for receiving key signals produced according to the manipulations of the user; a transmitting/receiving interface unit 140 for receiving pressure sensing signals from the game touch pad 200; a reproducing/outputting unit 150 for converting the song data read from the song data storage unit 110 into an analog audio signal; a display driving unit 160 for turning on and off the light-flashing unit 190 in response to driving signals inputted from external; a character display driving unit 170 for outputting game data to the character display unit 195 in response to a character display control signal inputted from external; and a controller 180 for reading a certain song from the song data storage unit 110 in case that a game start signal is inputted through the key signal input unit 130 and outputting the read song data to the reproducing/outputting unit 150, outputting a driving signal for controlling the driving of the light-flashing unit 190, and outputting a character display control signal to the character display driving unit 170 for outputting the game data of the game data storage unit 120 to the character display unit 195.

[0035] The character display unit 195 may be formed in one body on a front panel equipped with keys for controlling the operations of a digital reproducing device, or on a rear panel of the digital reproducing device.

[0036] The game data stored in the game data storage unit 120 is constructed with reference line data displayed on the character display unit 195 and at least one or more target data moving toward the reference line according to a predetermined locus.

[0037] At this time, the controller 180 adds a predetermined point to a present score and displays the point-added score on the character display unit 195 if a pressure sensing signal is inputted from the game touch pad 200 in case that the game data moves according to the locus and reaches the reference line.

[0038] Driving signals outputted to the light-flashing unit 190 for controlling the turning on and off of the light-emitting unit 190 are produced in correspondence with digital signals of a song read from the song data storage unit 110.

[0039] The operations of the portable dance game apparatus constructed above according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, A connection of the digital signal-reproducing device 100 to the game touch pad 200 together with a connection of an earphone or a headphone to the digital signal-reproducing device 100 enables a user to listen to a song through the earphone and the headphone.

[0041] Further, if a user inputs a game start signal through the key signal input unit 130 equipped in the digital signal-reproducing device 100, the controller 180 recognizes the game start signal, reads certain song data from the song data storage unit 110, and outputs the reproducing/outputting unit 150.

[0042] Accordingly, the reproducing/outputting unit 150 decodes the song data into an analog signal, so that a user can listen to the song through the headphone or the earphone.

[0043] In the meantime, the controller 180 reads game data from the game data storage unit 120 and outputs targets moving along the reference line and a certain locus on the character display unit of a LCD panel 195 through the character display driving unit 170.

[0044] Accordingly, the user selectively steps on the pressure sensors of the game touch pad 200 while looking at the movements of the targets display on the LCD panel 195.

[0045] At this time, the controller 180 judges whether targets corresponding to the pressure sensing signals reach the reference line displayed on the LCD panel 195 when the pressure sensing signals are inputted from the pressure sensors of the game touch pad 200.

[0046] As the judgement result, in case that the targets reach the reference line, the controller 180 adds a predetermined point to a present score and displays the point-added score to the LCD panel 195, so that a user can see the score.

[0047] In the meantime, the controller 180 selectively drives the light flashing unit of light-emitting devices 190 integrally equipped on the panel of the digital signal-reproducing device to realize a simplified lighting device when preforming the game functions by using the digital signal-reproducing device.

[0048] The flashing of the light-emitting devices 190 of the digital signal-reproducing device 100 may be realized even in case of playing a role of a general reproducing device in addition to the performance of the game function.

[0049] Another embodiment of the present invention has a unit for storing image data instead of the game data storage unit, and a unit for outputting image data on the character display unit in response to character display control signals inputted from the controller instead of the character display driving unit for outputting the game data, to thereby have the same structure and operations as the above embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] That is, if a song is chosen through the key signal input unit 130 equipped in the portable digital signal-reproducing unit, the controller 180 reads image data from the unit for storing the image data and controls the character display driving unit 170 to be moved to the chosen song.

[0051] Accordingly, the character display driving unit 170 displays the image data moving to the song on the LCD panel 195. Further, the controller 170 controls the display driving unit 160 in order for the light flashing unit 190 to be turned on and off according to the song, to thereby provide the joy of listening and seeing by using the digital signal-reproducing device.

[0052] As stated above, the present invention enables a user to play dance games by using a DDR connected to a portable digital signal-reproducing unit, so that the user can enjoy dance games in a desired place without restriction to locations.

[0053] Further, a separate computer system is not required since only a portable reproducing device is employed for enjoying the dance games.

[0054] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited to the described preferred embodiments, but various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dance game apparatus, comprising: a game touch pad constructed with plural pressure sensors, and for outputting certain signals in case that a user steps on it; and a digital signal-reproducing device equipped with at least one or more light-flashing units and a character display unit for outputting character data on the front thereof, wherein the digital signal-reproducing device includes: a song data storage unit for storing game data in order for a user to enjoy games to the song data; a key signal input unit for receiving key signals produced according to the manipulations of the user; a transmitting/receiving interface unit for receiving pressure sensing signals from the game touch pad; a reproducing/outputting unit for converting the song data read from the song data storage unit into an analog audio signal; a display driving unit for turning on and off the light-flashing unit in response to driving signals inputted from external; a character display driving unit for outputting game data to the character display unit in response to a character display control signal inputted from external; and a controller for reading a certain song from the song data storage unit in case that a game start signal is inputted through the key signal input unit and outputting the read song data to the reproducing/outputting unit, outputting a driving signal for controlling the driving of the light-flashing unit, and outputting a character display control signal to the character display driving unit for outputting the game data of the game data storage unit to the character display unit.
 2. The dance game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the character display unit is a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, and formed in one body with a front panel of the digital signal-reproducing device.
 3. The dance game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the character display unit is a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, and formed in one body with a rear panel of the digital signal-reproducing device.
 4. The dance game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the game data is constructed with reference line data displayed on the character display unit and at least one or more target data moving toward the reference line according to a predetermined locus.
 5. The dance game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein driving signals outputted to the light-flashing unit for controlling the turning on and off of the light-emitting unit are produced in correspondence with digital signals of a song read from the song data storage unit.
 6. The dance game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller judges whether the game data moving according to a locus reaches a predetermined reference line, adds or subtracts a predetermined point to or from a present score in accordance with whether a pressure sensing signal corresponding to the game data reached to a predetermined reference line is inputted, and displays the added or subtracted score on the character display unit.
 7. The dance game apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the controller judges whether the game data moving according to a locus reaches a predetermined reference line, adds or subtracts a predetermined point to or from a present score in accordance with whether a pressure sensing signal corresponding to the game data reached to a predetermined reference line is inputted, and displays the added or subtracted score on the character display unit.
 8. The dance game apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the controller judges whether the game data moving according to a locus reaches a predetermined reference line, adds or subtracts a predetermined point to or from a present score in accordance with whether a pressure sensing signal corresponding to the game data reached to a predetermined reference line is inputted, and displays the added or subtracted score on the character display unit.
 9. The dance game apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the controller judges whether the game data moving according to a locus reaches a predetermined reference line, adds or subtracts a predetermined point to or from a present score in accordance with whether a pressure sensing signal corresponding to the game data reached to a predetermined reference line is inputted, and displays the added or subtracted score on the character display unit.
 10. The dance game apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the controller judges whether the game data moving according to a locus reaches a predetermined reference line, adds or subtracts a predetermined point to or from a present score in accordance with whether a pressure sensing signal corresponding to the game data reached to a predetermined reference line is inputted, and displays the added or subtracted score on the character display unit.
 11. A portable digital signal-reproducing device, comprising: a song data storage unit for storing song data of at least one or more songs; an image data storage unit for storing image data in order for a user to enjoy a dance game to the song data; a key signal input unit for receiving key signals produced according to the manipulations of the user; a reproducing/outputting unit for converting the song data read from the song data storage unit into an analog audio signal; a light-flashing driving unit for flashing at least one or more light-flashing units in order to proceed with the dance game of the user in response to an input of a driving signal; a character display driving unit for outputting image data to the character display unit in response to an input of a character display control signal; and a controller for receiving a game start signal through the key signal input unit, reading a certain song from the song data storage unit and outputting the read song through the reproducing/outputting unit, outputting driving signals for controlling the driving of the light-flashing units, and outputting a control signal to the character display driving unit in order to output to the character display unit the dance game image data from the image data storage unit.
 12. The portable digital signal-reproducing device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the character display driving unit outputs the dance game image data according to a control signal from the controller through a display unit available for the user as a character display unit.
 13. The portable digital signal-reproducing device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the image data is constructed with reference line data displayed on the character display unit and at least one or more target data moving toward the reference line according to a predetermined locus.
 14. The portable digital signal-reproducing device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein, in outputting driving signals for controlling the turning on and off of the light-flashing unit from the controller, the driving signals are produced in correspondence with digital signals of a song read from the song data storage unit.
 15. The portable digital signal-reproducing device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the controller judges whether the image data moving according to a locus reaches a predetermined reference line, adds or subtracts a predetermined point to or from a present score in accordance with whether a pressure sensing signal corresponding to the image data reached to a predetermined reference line is inputted, and displays the added or subtracted score on the character display unit.
 16. The portable digital signal-reproducing device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the controller judges whether the image data moving according to a locus reaches a predetermined reference line, adds or subtracts a predetermined point to or from a present score in accordance with whether a pressure sensing signal corresponding to the image data reached to a predetermined reference line is inputted, and displays the added or subtracted score on the character display unit.
 17. The portable digital signal-reproducing device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the controller judges whether the target data moving according to a locus reaches a predetermined reference line, adds or subtracts a predetermined point to or from a present score in accordance with whether a pressure sensing signal corresponding to the target data reached to a predetermined reference line is inputted, and displays the added or subtracted score on the character display unit.
 18. The portable digital signal-reproducing device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the controller judges whether the image data moving according to a locus reaches a predetermined reference line, adds or subtracts a predetermined point to or from a present score in accordance with whether a pressure sensing signal corresponding to the image data reached to a predetermined reference line is inputted, and displays the added or subtracted score on the character display unit.
 19. The portable digital signal-reproducing device as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising an LCD panel formed in one body on a front panel as the character display unit for the dance game.
 20. The portable digital signal-reproducing device as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising an LCD panel formed in one body on a rear panel as the character display unit for the dance game. 